Dress-form.



J. RAE.

DRESS FORM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1910.

Patented May 2, 1911.

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J. RAE.

DRESS FORM.

. APPLIGATIION FILED MAR. 30, 191( 91,241. Patented May 2, 1911.

5 SHEETSSHEBT 2.

WITNESSES: I/V VENTOR ln-il w M" I46 (/05 50c ATTORNEYS J. RAE.

DRESS FORM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.30,1910.

WIT/VESSS:

Arm/aways.

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J. RAE.

' DRESS FORM.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 30, 1910.

Patented May 2, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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J. RAE.

DRESS FORM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 30, 1910.

Patented m 2, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

FIG. /6.

R m m w UNITEDQSTAWENT OFFICE.

JQHN RAE, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 .KEABNS MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

DRESS-FORM.

To all whom it may concern: a

Be it known that I, J OHN RAE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, and State of ennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Dress-Forms, of which the followin is a full, clear, and exact de-' scription, re erence being had to the accom- 1 panying drawings, which form a part of this specificatlon.

The object of my invention is to produce'a dress form corresponding to that of a typical human figure from the neck to below the hips, which may be adjusted to lengthen and shorten the form, 'to contract and expand it at various points, and to. vary its contending substantially throughout the length of the form, so as to preserve the continuity effected may be understood by reference to end. view of and smoothnessof the form under all adjustments whileenabling it to readily. flex and bend under the influence of the 'adjusting mechanism.

The invention has for its more eneral object to produce a dress form exce ing in the qualities of scope, fiexibility, simplicity and durability.

The means whereby the above objects are the annexed drawings and the following general and particular description thereof, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention. p f

in the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of the dress form. Fig. 1 is a detail plan view of a part of the shoulder and chest portion of the form. Fig. 2 is a side view, partly in section, of the form, w th certa n parts omitted. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional plan on the iine 3-3 Fig. 2 of a part of the neck portion of the form. Fig.v 4 1s a detail the shoulder portion of the form. Fig.'5 is a detail sectional view on osition.

thev line 5-5 Fig. 2 of the locking device for one of the sklrt extenders. Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan view of the hip extenders connected with the exterior wire skeleton and of the means for spacingsthe contour wires and shaping the form at the hip. Figs. 7 and are detailviews of partsof-Fig. 6. Fig, 9 s an elevation showing the central post and the devices for vertically adjusting the extenders. Fig.10 is a detail view of parts of one of said devices.

of the means for locking the post to the Patented May 2., 1911.

Fig. 11 is a section on hne 11--11,F1g. 10. Fig. 12 is a detail view tubular portion of'the' standard. Fig. 13 is? a detail view of the one of the devices for adjusting the arm hole members back and forth and lockinginthe. adjusted position. Fig; 14 is a detail sectional view of one of the devices for adjusting the shoulder part of the form in and out and looking it in its adjusted Fig. 15 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the principle of operation com mon tocertain of the adjusting or locking devices, Figs. 16 and 17 are detail views of the means for locking the portable base to the floor.

The main body of the dress form 'comprises an exterior wire skeleton composed of three series of vertically extending elastic contour wires 1, 2 and 3. The contour wires 1, which are relatively thick and comparatively inelastic, each extend from the hi portion of the form to the lower end thereof, where it is bent upon itself and extends upward to the hip portion. These wires constitute the skirt portion of the form. The contour wires 2, which are relatively thinner and more elastic, extend from the waist portion of the form down to below the hip portion, and at their lower ends are bent to form eyes that engage the wires 1. This construction ermits the lower ends of the wires 2 to sli e along the wires 1. The con tour wires 3, which are also relatively thin and elastic, extend from the neck and shoulder portions of the skeleton down to below the hip portion but above the lower termini of the wires 2, and, like wires 2, are provided at their lower ends with eyes embracing the wires .1.

The wires 1, 2 and 3, are attached, at points corresponding to the shoulder, bust, waist and hip portions of the form, to extenders connected with the uprightcentral internal support, which extenders are adapt= 11o vision 0 the contour wires into adjustment and flexibility and in particu-' lar permits different parts'of the form to be adjusted with a greater degree of independence than is possible in a structure wherein the contour wires extend the entire length of the figure besides enabling the relatively sharp change of direction at the waist to be secured without bending any of the wires at a relatively sharp angle, each series of Wires 2 and 3, on the contrary, at all points and in all possible adjustment of the form, being curved on a relatively long radius, while the skirt portion, where no pronounced curvature is necessary and where comparative rigidity is desirable, may be made of less flexible material. The wires 2 and 3 are preferably of about .04 diameter, and all the wires are of sufiicient elasticity to enable them to yield to effect the variations in contour dictated by 'the adjusting mechanism to which they are respec-.

tively secured. At the same time, all the contour wires are of suflicient rigidity to cause them to hold the set efl"ected by the a justing devices, so that they may be readily locked in any position to which they may be moved. or flexed.

4 is the portable base and 5 a tube extending upward therefrom, said base and tube forming a standard'on which the dress form is supported.

6 1s a post inserted in the tube 5 and extending within, and nearly to the top of, the skeleton, and supporting the same as hereinafter described.

7 is a frame (see Fig. 12)'secured to the tube 5 and extending above the upper end thereof and surrounding the tube and post.

8 is a lever fulcrumed on the frame 7 at 9 and having an orifice through which the post 6 extends.

- 10 is a spring surrounding the post and confined between the top of the frame 7 and the lever 8 and normally holding the lever greater diameter than the post 6 (see diain the inclined osition shown.

The orifice 1n the lever 8 is of slightly gram, Fig. 15), but'when the lever assumes the normally in lined position described, opposite edges of the orifice engage the post and prevent any downward movement of the same. The lever 8 is connected, by a'rod 11, with a foot-lever 12 sleeved loosely on the tube 5 and fulcrumed upon' acollar 13 secured to the tube 5. By depressing the lever 12, the lever 8 is rocked on its fulcrum toward a position at a right angle with the axis of the tube 5 and post 6, thereby freein'g the post from the-bite of the lever 8, permitting the operator to lower the post until the form is adjusted to the proper height. The operator then releases the lever 12 and the spring 10 immediately re turns the lever to its normal gripping position. The lever 8 'at no time prevents the operator from raising the post and when so raised, the lever 8 automatically engages and prevents its lowering.

To prevent the post 6 from being wholly withdrawn from the tube 5, a segmentshaped section of the lower end of the post is cut away (see Fig. 9) and the lower end of a leaf spring 14 1s riveted to the post in the lower end of its cut-away portion. The upper end of the spring 14 curves outward as shown. When the post is inserted into the tube, the upper corners of the leaf spring are engaged by the tube walls and forced in. If it be attempted to withdraw the post, the upper end of the spring 14 will spring out as soon as it emerges from the tube and 1mmediately thereafter will engage the lever 8,,

which will prevent further movement of the 0st. I p Mounted on the post so as to slide and swin thereon are a series of members wh ch may be designated respectively as the skirt, hip, waist and bust-extenders a, b, c and J. Each of the members I), c and d is vertically adjustable relatively to the post 6 and to the remaining members. Each member oomprises a plate and radial extendersproperly mounted thereon and connected with the exterior skeleton.

The means for vertically ad usting and supporting the hip extender 5 W111 first be described (see Figs. 1, 2, 9, 10 and 11) The plate20 of the hip extender is connected, by means of vertically extending rods 21, with an adjuster 6 comprising a an of plates 22, 22, having collars 23, 23, s dable on the post 6; the rods 21 extendmg through both plates 22, 22 and held from movement relatively thereto by cross-pins 24, represent a pair of levers sleeved on the post 6 between the two collars 23,23. These levers are fulcrumed, at one side of the post 6, respectively above and below a plate 25 supported between side pieces 26, 26 connecting the plates 22, 22. The ends of the levers 24, 24, on the opposite side of the post, are sleeved on a pin 27 connecting the plates 22, 22. Between each lever 24 and its most adjacent plate 22, is a washer 28, loose on the pin, and acoil spring 29, surrounding the pin and confined between the plate and the washer. The orifices in the levers 24, 24, are of slightly greater diameters than the post 6, but when, under the influence of the springs 29, 29, the levers assume the normally inclined position shown, opposite edges of the orifices engage the post and prevent any vertical movement of the plates 22, 22, thereon, whereby the plate 20 of the hipextender, is automatically held in any position to which it has been adjusted. If it is desired to raise or lower the hip-extender, the ends of the levers 24, 24, beyond their fulcrums are pressed toward each other, thereby freeing the post from the grip of the levers and permitting the latter, together with the plates 22, 22 and the plate 20, to be moved either up or down to the position to which it is desired to adjust'the extender. This accomplished, the levers 24, 24, are re-. leased, and their respective springs 29; 29, act immediately to return the levers to their normally inclined positions, thereby automatically locking the plate 20 in its newly adjusted position.

The means for vertically adjusting the supporting plate 30 of the waist-extender 0 and the means for vertically 'adjustin the supporting plate 40 of the bust-exten er (Z,

are each the same as the means just described for vertically adjusting the supporting plate 20 of the hip extender.

f represents the adjuster for the Waistextender c, bein connected therewith by means of the vertically-extending rods 31.

9 represents the adjuster for the bustextender all, being connected therewith by means of the vertically extending rods 41.

The pair of lates 32, 32 of the adjuster f and the pair 0 plates 42, 42 of the adjuster are provided with orifices to permit the rods 21 to extend loosely through them, said orifices at the same time guiding the rods 21 in their vertical movement.

The pair of plates 42, 42 of the adjuster g and the plate 20 of the extender b are provided with similar orifices to accommodate and guide the rods 31.

The rods 41 extend through orifices in the plate 30 of the extender c in' the plate 20 of the extender b, in the plates 32, 32, of the adjuster f, in the lates 22, 22 of the adjuster e, and in the p ate of the skirt extender a. The lower ends ofthe rods 41 extend into, and are adapted to slide or telescope Within guides in guide bars 43, 43.

. These guide bars are in turn adapted to slide through orifices in plates 44 and 45 secured to the frame 7. In loweringthe post6with the form supported thereon'from its uppermost position, the guide bars 43 move with the rods 41 until the former contact with the base, 4, see Fig. 1, after which the rods 41 slide from thetop to the bottom of the guides in the bars'43. In raising the post 6, the opposite order of movement takes place. This arrangement permits a longer range of travel for skirt length than, would otherwise be possible, consistent with the proper guidance of the rods 41 throughout their movement. 7 I

The construction of the skirt extender a willnow be described (see Figs. 2 and 5) Secured to the plate 50 of the skirt adjuster is a pluralit of metal strips 51.

These strips are pre erably four in number and radiate from the central-post 6 toward the front, the back and both sides of the form. Eachstrip'extends beneath the late 50, and is secured thereto, its inner on being'bent upward through the plate, while its outer end is bent successively upward above the level of theplate, outward and downward. i

' 52 are rods, equal in number to the strips 51, and, like them, radiating from the post 6'. The rods. 52 extend through orifices 1n the vertical bends of the strips 51 and extend a considerable distance beyond the ends of the strip 51 and almostto the exterior skeleare attached by means.

ton, to which they hereinafter descrlbed. Surrounding each rod 52, between the two outer vertical bends of the strip' 51, is a block 53,'to which is secured a threaded bolt 54, extending up through the strip. Threaded on the bolt 54' is a thumb-nut 55 engaging the strip. By turning the nut 55 in one direction, the bolt 54 and block 53 may be drawn up a short distance thereby flexing or bending the rod .52 and holdingit from lateral movement. By turning the nut 55 in the opposite direction, the rod 52 is straightened, permitting it to be adjusted laterally. By suitably ad-' justing the different rods 52, the diameter and shape of the skirt portion of the skeleton may be varied as desired. The method of connecting the rods 52 of the skirt extender to the contour wires 1 is the same as that hereinafter described for connecting the hip,

waist and bust-extenders to their corresponding contour wires.

The construction of the hip adjuster b ,will now be described (see Figs. 2, 6 and 7) Secured to the plate 20 are four yokes 60, each formed from a thin strip bent to shape. Two of these okes extend upward from the plate 20 and tli therefrom.

61, 61, represent a pair of pins, one pair for each yoke, secured at one end to the plate and at the other end to the connecting member of the yoke.

62 is a bar extending loosely through the vertical members of the yoke and through a guide piece 63 on the plate 20, said bar being adapted to slide longitudinally of the plate 20 and be ided in such movement by the yoke 60 and the piece 63.

64 is a toothed lever, pivoted at its inner end on the inner end of the bar 62 and extendin through slots in the vertical members o the yoke.

65, 65, are springs coiled about the pins 61, 61, and confined between the plate 20 and the washer 66 sleeved on the pins and bearing against, the lever 64. Under the influ e other two extend downward 1'10 vertical members of the yoke 60 through which the lever extends. On the outer end of the bar 62 is a plate 67 which is slotted v The foregoing means which is connected with to receive the outer end of the lever 64, and

the connecting member of a yoke 68 of a holder One arm ofthe yoke 68 is provided with two orifices through one of which extends one of the contour wires 1 (which is bent upon the yoke and thereby secured in fixed relation' thereto) and through the other of which loosely extendsone of the contour wires 2.

69 is a finger piece secured near the outer end of the lever 64. By depressing the finger piece 69, the lever 64 is moved on its pivot toward the plate 20, thereby compressing the springs edge of the lever from engagement with the yoke 60 permitting the lever 64, and with it the bar 62, to be moved radially with respect to the post 6, thereby moving in or out the contour wires connected with the bar 62. When the contour wires have been adjusted to their desired positions, the pressure on the finger piece 69 is released, and the springs 65 act to rengage the lever-64 with the yoke 60.

The waist extender 0 and the bust extender d are constructed like the hip extender 5. The yokes 68 of the waist extender are, however, connected fixedly with contour wires 2 and loosely with contour wires 3; while the bust extender is connected (loosely) with only contour wires 3. The rods 52 of the skirt extender also carry holders k, which engage contour wires 1.

I n order to maintain the contour wires at uniform distances apart, the following means are provided (see Figs. 1,6, 7 and'8.) Each holder k is provided with laterally extending ears 7 O. 71 represent sets of lazy tongs, there being one set between the cars 70 of adjacent holders k of each extender. Secured to pivot pins of each set of lazy tongs are holders 72, engaging the contour wires. By means of this construction, an

inward or outward movement of any one of the contour wires, causes all the contour w1res within the quadrant containing the one dlrectly operated to approach or recede from adjacent wires to a uniform degree. for uniformly'spacing apart the contour wires do not, however,

necessa'rily insure any uniformity in the degree. to which the various contour wires are moved radially. Further, it is not always desirable for all the contour wires to be moved outwardly or inwardly to precisely the same extent, as cross-sections through different human bodies will exhibit as wide diversities in shape as in size. To provide for adapting the contour wires to any given 'shape, the following means are provided and freeing the toothed (see Figs. 1, 6, 7 and 8). Extending through the arms of each yoke 68 of each of the extender holders in is a bolt 74, on the upper end of which is threaded a thumb nut 75 engaging the upper arm of the yoke. The bolt between the arms of the yoke, is slotted verticall and through. this slot extend two thin at steel tapes 76. The end of one of the tapes, 76, is bent down a ainst the bolt so as to hold it in fixed re ation thereto. This tape extends throu h guiding flanges on successive holders 7 reaches the next holder 1:, throughthe slotted bolt of which it extends freely for an adjusting length. To this bolt is attached another tape 76, which in like manner extends on around another quarter of the contour. Thus there are four ta s, or tape sections, for each extender, each eing secured at one end to one extender member and in sliding enga ement with the next adjacent extender mem r. These tapes can be flexed into any desired shape. If they are ulled in one direction, the curve between adjacent extender members is flattened, while if they are pushed in the other direct-ion, the curve between adjacent extender members may be bulged 'out as far as desired. After the tape is manipulated to effect the desired curvature, its slidin end is held from "longitudinal movement y turning the nut 75, drawing up the bolt 74 until the tape is confined against the upper arm of the yoke. The tape 76 is preferably sli at its fastened end, than at its sliding end, so as not to obstruct the. upward movement of the bolt 74 or prevent it binding the loose tape with a sufficient degree of tightness.

Secured to the plate 50 of the skirt extenders a are four upright rods 81 (see Figs. 2,

6 and 9) which extend up through orifices in until it the plates 20, 30, and 40 of the hip, waist and bust extenders respectively. The "upper ends of the rod 81 are connected by a plate 82 having a sleeve held by a set-screw on the post 6. The 'skirt extender is thus hung in fixed relation from the plate 82. The rods 41 connected with the bust extender extend upwardly therefrom and slide through 01'1- fices in the plate 82 thereby keeping the various extender plates in alinement. Secured to the sleeve of the plate 82 is the plate 80 of a chest extender h. On this plate are mounted two extender contrivances similar in construction to the four extender contrivances mounted on each of the plates 20, 30, and 40, and similarly lettered. These two contrivances extend respectively forward and rearward and the holders 7: carried on the outer ends thereof, have orifices through which loosely extend the contour wires 3.

, The means for shaping the shoulder portion of the form will now be described (see Figs. 1, 1 2 and 4.)

- Secured to the plate 80 of the chest-extender h is a frame 83, through which the cross-rods 84, 85, extend from shoulder to shoulder. Near the outer ends of the rods 84, 85, are sleeved the shoulder plates 86, 86. Each plate 86 is capable of moving along the rods 84, 85, to narrow or widen the shoulder. To move said plate 86 alon the rods and hold it in the position to w ich itfmay'be adjusted the following means are provided. Secured to the plate is a frame, one arm 87 of which is sleeved on the rod 85v (see Fig. 14). 88 is a pin connecting the plate 86 and arm 87. 89, 89, are leverssleeved between their ends on the rod 85, each having an orifice slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the rod 85. '90 is a spring coiled about the rod 85 and confined between the levers. Correspondin ends of the levers 89 are loosely sleeved on t e pin 88, and bear against the washers 91, 91 on said pin. The

. spring 90 normally holds the levers 89 in the v inclined position shown, in which position crnmed onpins'97, 9

opposite walls of the orifice in each lever bite the rod 85 and hold the plate 86 from longi-' tudinal movement thereon. When, however, the outer free ends of the levers 89 are moved toward each other, the grasp of the levers upon the rod 85 is released and the plate 86 can be moved longitudinally on the rods 84 and 85, thereby permittin each shoulder portion of the frame to be narrowed or widened. Each plate 86 also carries a frame 92, in guides wherein the rods 93 and 94 may be longitudinally moved. The forwardly extending rod 93 carries an. ear 95. -A set of lazy tongs 71 connect the ear 95 with one of the ears '10 on the holder is of the front member of the chest extender h. By moving forwardly or rearwardly the rod 93' at either shoulder, the size of the arm hole may be varied, while the lazy tongs (to the pivot pins of which the contour wires-3 are connected, -by means of holders; 72, as hereinbefore described in the description of the hip extender) maintain the contour wires 3 at uniform distances apart. By similar means the rearwardly extendin '1 rods 94 are contender h. 4 The rods 93 and 94 are held in. any posi-- tion to which they may be adjusted on the frame 92by twopairs of levers 96, 96 (see ne'cted with the rear inem er of the chest ex- .Fi 13), which are loosely sleeved on the re s 93 and 94 'resgectively and. are fulon the frame 92 and are held in an inclined locking position by means of coil, springs 98, 98, on the rods 93 and 94 'respectlvely. By pressing together.

the outer ends of a pair'of levers 96, the same are moved'toward a position at right angles to their corresponding rod'93 or 94, thereby freeing the rod from th Y i i as of the levers and permitting the eam "9a justed. Aiter adjustment, the levers are released and their actuating spring moves them into the position shown, in which position the rod is locked in its adjusted position. V 1 Each forwardly extending rod 93 also carries one end of a tape 101, which extends through the holders 72 of the adjacent setof lazy tqngs connecting such rod 93 and the front member of the chest extender h. The loose ends of each tape 101 are adjustably connected with the holder 70 on the outer front end of the chest extender. Similar tapes connect the rearwardly extending rods 94 with the rear member or the chest extender h. I

. The neck-forming device, the means for supporting it, for varying its diameter, and

for raising and lowering it with respect to the body portion of the form, are construct- 1 ed and operated as follows (see Figs. 1, 2

and 3). 110 is-a post connected at its lower end' with the rod 84. 111' is a flange on the post on which rests the coil spring 112 surrounding the post. 113 is=a frame surrounding the post and resting on the coil spring 112. 114, 114, are channel bars depending from the frame. 115, 115, are guides riveted to theframe 83 on either side of the post 110 and having outwardly extending arms extending into the channel bars 114, 114. These guides prevent the neck forming device from tilting or turning, while permitting it to be moved up and down and guiding it in such movement. On

the upper part of the frame 113 rest the inner ends of arms 116.' The outer ends of arms 116 are secured to four neck-sections 117 whose lower ends rest upon the lower part of the frame 113. Secured to the inner ends of thearms 116 are-pins 118 which projectabove the arms and'engage curved cam'slots- 119 in a disk 120. Secured to this ,disk is a sleeve 121, which surrounds a, threaded stem 100 and upper end of the post 110 and has secured to it an arm 122. The arm 122 is intended to be grasped and turned by hand, and when by this means the disk 120 is turned, the pins 118 engaging the slots 119 will be moved radially inward or outward, thereby imparting a similar movement to the neck-sections 117,

thereby expanding or contracting the neck portion.

. The stem 100 screws into a longitudinal threaded hole on the post 110 and at it's upper end hasa head in the form of a knurled disk 123 for operating it by hand. By turning. the knurled head in one direction, the sleeve 1'21 and the entire-neck portion connected therewith are depressed against the ressure o-f'the'spring 112. v By turning the nurled head in the 'op osite direction,

thespringjll2 acts to e-neck portion. 'fBHereis -a pin nushionj; 102 attached to the knurled head erator.

Secured: to each -shoulder plate 86 is a nut 130, which carries a screw ,131 having a for the convenience of the ophead by which it may be turned. Ears 132 p are swiveled in the head of the screw. To

these ears are pivoted the outer end of a shoulder bar 133. The inner ends of the shoulder. bars 133, 133, extend 'loosely through orifices in opposite neck sections 117, and it will be understood that as these neck sections are' raised and. lowered, as just described, the inner ends of. the bars 133, 133, will be correspondingly raised andlowered, varying the slope 'ofthe shoulder. The outer ends of the bars 133, 133, are raised and lowered by turning the screws 131, taking care of unequal height of shoulder-s. I

It is convenient to mount the portable base 4 on casters to permit it tobe readily moved over the fldor, but when in actual use it is desirable that it should remain stationary. The followin construction permits of themountin of t e base on casters while enabling'it to e frictionally locked to the floor whenever desired (see Figs. 16 and 17) Through one leg, or each of two or more le S, of the base extends a post 140, upon w ich is swiveled a bracket ,141 carrying-a caster 142. Upon the lower end of the post z is threaded a nut 143 and a rubber block I orificed to 144,.thelatter projecting below the post and provided with a conical centrally-located aperture 145 in its lower face. Mounted on the top of the leg is a frame or casing 146, permit the post 140 to extend 147 is a spring confined-beof the casing and a head 148 end of the post. 149 and 150 through it. tween the top on the upper are pins. extending through the casing and the leg. on opposite sides-of the post. 151 is a lever, fulcrumed at one end againstthe wall of an orifice in one side of the casing, loosely sleeved ,on the post 140 and the two 3 pins 149 and 150, and at its other end projecting through-another and larger orifice in i the other side of the casing. 152 is a spring surrounding one of the pins and confined between the bottom of the casing and a washer on the casing beneath the lever 1 51.

lever downward movement moves the lever toward a-horizontal position,

thereby relievingits grip upon the post. 7

.When=-the post is in ts upper position,'as indicated in Fig, 16, the" pressed until the block 144 rigid character.

the latterfrom upward movement.

rubber block 144 skeleton eom'posed is above the level of the floor, and the dress form may be freely moved about on its casters. By bearing with the foot upon the head of the post 140, the latter may be defirmly engages the floor. Y

Upon releasing the foot ressure upon the post, the lever 151 imme iately locks the post from risin in the base; and the compressed rubber lock 144, partially relieved, expands and takes the weight off of the caster, this weight making sufficient friction between rubber block and floorto give the necessary resistance to lateral motion. The dress form is thus frictionally locked'to the floor. To release the same, the outer upturned endof the lever 151 is depressed, thereby releasing its grip upon the post 140, and the latter, under the impulse of the spring 147, is immediately lifted. b

The invention is not limited to the precise details of construction and arrangement shown, as various modificationsthereof may be made without departing from the essential features of my invention. Nor is it intended to limit the application of certain specific features of novelty to the precise location to which said features are applied nor to the precise means described for embodying said features in practically operative form. For example, the'devices comprising orifices, levers or plates sleeved on rods and adapted to effecta'djustments by varying the angle thereof to the'rods are shown in a number of different forms having different modes of operation; and such devices might be embodied-in still other forms, or certain embodiments thereof embodying specific novelty might be applied to other portions of the form, without departing from this feature of my invention as expressed in the broader claims therefor.

While the contour wires are spoken of as wires, they need not necessarily be wires in the strict sense of being'circular crosssection, so long as they have sufiicient pliability to adapt them for the. purpose; although it is decidedly preferable to employ wires in the strict sense of the term, and many ofthe leading features of the form are arranged with a view to their utilization in substitution for plates of a rigid or semi- While the drawings illustrate a form corresponding to that of aportion of a typical womans figure,'it will be understood that the invention may be equally embodied in forms corresponding to the typical masculine figure when it desired to employ the .same for-fitting garments.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is: p t 1 p 1. A dress form comprising an exterior of vertically extending contour wires divided into three series, one

of which extends from the hip portion to the lower end bf the form, the other of which extends from the waist portion to below the hip portion, and the third of which extends from the upper portion of the form to below the hip portion. 2. A dress form comprising an exterior skeleton composed of vertically extending contour wires divided, into three series, one of which constitutes the skirt portion of the form, the second of which curves outward and downward from the waist portion and slidably engages the skirt wires, and the third of which curves downward from the upper portion of the form successively convexly and ooncavely and also slidably engages the skirt wires.

3. In a-dress form, the combination with an internal post, oi? a hip extender sup- -ported thereupon, a series of external contour wires depending from the hip extender,

a waist extender supported from said post, a

second series of external contour wires depending from the waist extender and. extending below the hip extender, extenders supported from said post above the waist extender, and a third series of external contour wires engaging the last' named extenders' and extending below the waist extender.

i. In a dress form, the combination with an internal post, of skirt-, hipwaistbust-, and chest-extenders, and shoulder bars and neck member, all carried by said post, a se-' ries of external contour wires carried by the hipand skirt-extenders, a second series ofexternal contour wires carried by the waist-and hip-extenders, and a third series of external contour wires engaging the neck -member, shoulder .bars, and chest-, bustand waist-- extenders; the contour wires of each series being slidably engaged with the contour wires of another series.

5. In a dress form, the combination with aninternal post, of a series of devices independently adjustable on said post, means to hold said devices i'ntheir adjusted positions,

rods extending upward from each device, a radially adjustable extender mounted on the rods supported by each device, and external contour wires engaging the extenders.

6 In a dress form, the combination with an internal post, of a series of-devices independently adjustable onsaid post, means to hold said devices in their adjusted positions,

, rods extending upward from each device, a

plate mounted on the rods supported by each device, radially extensible members supportedon each plate, and external con- {Jour wires engaging said extensible memers. Y

7 In a-dress form, the combination, with an internal post, of a series of adjusters independently adjustable on said post, a series of extendersa'bove said adjusters, upright "rods connecting the several adjusters with their respective extenders, and external eon.- tour wires engaging the extenders.

8. In a dress form, the combination wlth an internal post, of a series of ad'usters slidable upon said post, each adjuster compris;

ing a pair of plates andmeans to lock the same in fixed relation with the post, upright rods carried by the several adjusters and extending through and guided by the plates of other adjusters, extenders above said adjusters, 'andsupported on the rods carried by their respective adjusters, and external con.- tour wires engaging the extenders.

9. In a dress form, the combination with an internal post, of a series of adjusters slidable dpon said 0st, each adjuster comprising a pair of p ates and-means to lock the same in fixed relation with the post, a cor responding series of extenders above said adjusters, each extender comprising a plate and radially adjustable members supported thereon, uprightv rods supported on the.

plates of each adjuster and connected with the corresponding extender and extending through and guided by the plates between such adjuster and extender, and external contour wires engaging the extenders.

10. In a dress form, the combination with an internal post and an external wire skeleton, of a hip extender within and engagin the skeleton, a waist-extender Within an engaging the skeleton and located above the hip-extender, a bust. extender within and engaging the'skeleton and located above the waist extender, abust adjuster below the hip extender," a waist-adjuster below the bustslidable on the post, and means for locking adjuster, a hip-adjuster below the waist adjuster, each adjuster comprising a member:

by each adjuster connected with, and sup- -porting, its corresponding extender.-

11. In a dress form, the combination with an internal post and anexternal wire skeleton, of devices for'adjusting said wires vertically and, circumferentially, said devices located within the skeleton and supported on the post and including plates and vertically extending supporting rods extending therethrough and guided thereby, vertically extending guide bars upon which certain of said rodsare slidable, and means supported from the post and u'pon which said guide bars are vertically movable.

12 In a dress form, the combination with I a post and an external wire skeleton, of a pair of plates, collars and a frame slidable on the, post, a pairof levers fulcrumed on the frame and having orifices through which i the post. extends, said -orifices being of slightly greater diameter than the. diameter of the post, springsnorm'ally holding said 1 levers an inclined position, w erebythe Opposite: wallsof theorifices gri the post,

rods extending upward from said plates, and an extender supported on said rods and connected with the skeleton.

13. In a dress form, the combination with an external wire skeleton, of an internal support, a bar slidable radially-relatively to the support and connected with said skeleton, a spring-pressed lever pivoted on said bar, and means adapted to lock said lever when actuated by said spring.

14. In a dress form, the combination with an external wire skeleton, of an internal support,'a bar slidable radially relatively tothe support and connected with saidskeleton, a yo e carried on said support, a lever p votedon said bar and having teeth adapted to engage said yoke, and a spring normally pressing said lever 1n engagement with said Y a bar slidable radially in yoke.

15. In a dress form, the combination with an external wire skeleton, of an internal post, a plate vertically movable on said post,

guides on said plate and connected with said ske eton, a spring pressed lever pivoted on said ar, and means carried by the plate adapted to engage and lock said lever under the normal action of the spring, thereby holding the bar in its adjusted position.

16. In a dress form, the combination with vertically extending contour wires of an external skeleton, of an internal support, a series of radially extensible devices mounted on said support, a setof lazy tongs connecting each two adjacent extensible devices, and holders connected with the pivot pins of the'lazy tongs and engaging said contour wlres.

17. In a dress form, the combination with vertically extending contour wires of an external skeleton, of an internal support, a series of radially-extensible devices mounted on salo 'support, holders engaging said contour wires and supported on said extensible device's, flexible and non-elastic tapes each fixedly connected with one of said holders and slidably connected with other of said' holders, and means to lock each tape in fixed relation to one of the holders in which it is slidable.

18. Ina dress form, the combination with vertically'extending contour wires of an external skeleton, of an internal support, a series of radially extensible devices mounted on said support, a set of lazy tongs connectlng'each two adjacent extensible devices,

holders en aging the contour wires and connected wit the extensible devices and the pivot pins of the lazy tongs, and flexible and non-elastic tapes connecting the holders. 19. In a dress form, the combination with vertically extending contour wires of an external skeleton, of an internal support, a series of radially extensible devices mounted on said support,.a set of lazy tongs connecting each two adjacent extensible devices, holders engaging the contour wires and connected with the extensible devices and the pivot pins of the lazy tongs, and flexible and non-elastic'tapes, each fixedly connected at one end with one of the holders connected with one of the extensible devices and extendin loosely through successive holders carrie by one adjacent set of lazy tongs and slidably other extensible device to which said set of lazy tongs is connected, and means to lock said tape in fixed relation to the last named holder.

20. In a dress form, the combination with vertically extendin contour wires of an external skeleton, 0 an internal support, a series of radially extensible devices mounted on said support, holders each com rising a yoke supported on the outer end 0 each extensible device and engaging one of the contour: wires and a. pin extending through said yoke, said pin being slotted between the arms of, the yoke, a flexible and non-elastic tape extending through and slidable within said slot and extending to the holder on the next adjacent extensible device, and a nut threaded on the end of the pin projecting. beyond one arm of the yoke, whereby the turning of said nut confines said tape between one end wall of the slot and one arm of the yoke.

21. In a dress form, the combination with I vertically extending contour wires of an external skeleton, of an internal support, a series of radially extensible devices mounted on said. support, holders each comprising a yoke supported on the outer end of each extensible device and engaging one of the contour-.wires and a pin extending through said yoke, said pin being .slotted between the arms of the yoke, a flexible and non-elastic tape .extending through and slidable within said. slot and extending to and secured to the holder on one of the next adjacent extensible devices, a flexible non-elastic engaging the holder carried by the tape extending through said slot and held in fixed relation to said pin and extending to and slidably engaging the other next adjacent extensible device, and a nut threaded on the end of the pin projecting beyond one arm of the yoke.

22. In a dress form, the combination with I an external wire skeleton, of an internal support, a strip secured thereto, a rod slidable laterally onsaid strip and connected with the external skeleton, a block between oppositely bent sections of the strip andthrough which said rod extends, a pin on said block, and a nut threaded on the pin and engaging said strip, whereby the block may be moved to flex said rod and hold it in adjusted position.

23. In a dress form, the combination with an internal post, of a frame supported therefrom, a pair of bars extending through said frame from one side to the other of the form, shoulder plates slidable on said bars, a neck forming contrivance supported on said frame, means to raise and lower the neck forming -con,trivance, a screw engaging each shoulder plate, a bar pivotally connected with the screw and loosely connected to the neck forming contrivance so as, to be movable up and down with the latter.

24. In a dress form the combination with a neck-forming c'ontnvance and a shoulder plate, of means permitting the adjustment of sald plate in and out and adapted to lock said plate in its adjusted positions, means to raise and lower the neck-formin contrivance, and a bar vertically adjusta 1e and' an-internal postilof a shoulder plate, means by which the s oulder plate is supported from the post, adjustable means adapted to lock said plate at different distances from said post, a rod supported on the shoulder plate, means by which said rod may be moved back and forth on said plate, a chest extender supported from said post, a set of lazy tongs connecting said rod and chest extender, a flexible, non-elastic tape secured at one end to said rod and slidably enga g the chest extender, and means on the c est extender to secure said tape in fixed relation thereto.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on this th day of March, 1910.

v JOHN RAE. Witnesses: p

M. M. HAMILTON, 

